Former Indian batter Abhishek Nayar reckons KL Rahul needs to be given enough game time ahead of the upcoming ODI World Cup. Rahul is all set to return to action in the Asia Cup after suffering a thigh injury in IPL 2023 while leading Lucknow Super Giants.
However, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid has revealed that Rahul will miss the first two matches of the Asia Cup against Pakistan and Nepal due to a niggle he is carrying.
Rahul has scored 1986 runs in 54 ODI matches at an average of 45.14. In the absence of Rishabh Pant, Rahul will be India’s first-choice wicket-keeper batter in the ODI showpiece.
In fact, Rahul hasn’t played any competitive cricket since the IPL 2023 and he will look to hit the ground running in the Asia Cup and the ODI series against Australia.
“KL has a niggle but he is in the squad. You want to give him game time and enough matches to build up. The players who are likely to play in the World Cup should be in the team,” said Nayar while speaking to Times of India.
Meanwhile, Sanju Samson was added to India’s Asia Cup squad as a backup for KL Rahul. In Rahul’s absence, Ishan Kishan is expected to be India’s first-choice wicket-keeper bat.
Kishan has scored 694 runs in 17 ODI matches at an average of 46.27 and a strike rate of 107.43, including a double century whereas Samson has scored 390 runs in 12 ODI matches at an impressive average of 55.71.
“Sanju has been playing in the West Indies and Ireland which is great, but with KL coming back from an injury, you have to give him enough game time before the World Cup,” Nayar added.
India will begin their Asia Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele on September 2.
